Having already some panache the lizardfolk moves with subtlety to flank the warden. That was of course only before to strike him.
Even frightened and flanked, the Warden manages to avoid the reptilian claws.
"Y'r tr'pped. Tha's a pris'ner. W're trying'a r'scue you!"
Another of the Warden's images pops as it is struck by the blade. The canine's second strike clearly misses.
Seeing the broom go accost someone else, Savan levels his rifle at the Warden. He didn't want to hurt her, but this needed to end. He fires in a loud explosion. He reloads and tries to put a second bullet into her.
Savan's first shot fires true. The second misses.
Ironwolf strikes the warden twice before raising his shield.
The champion cuts into the poppet.
Her last image pops.
PUTTING THE "WAR" IN "WARDEN'S OFFICE" - Round Two Cont'd/Round Three Cont'd!
Areeza -1 HP
Zdenek
Ironwolf
Artemios
Savan
Broom (yellow)
Grannik
Upset Warden -19 HP
Areeza tries again to smack the nasty warden with her scimitar.
Alas, Areeza is unsuccessful.
The remaining broom attempts to brush away the Warden's attacker.
PUTTING THE "WAR" IN "WARDEN'S OFFICE" - Round Three Cont'd!
Areeza -1 HP
Round Three
Zdenek
Ironwolf
Artemios
Savan
Broom (yellow)
Grannik
Upset Warden -19 HP
Look you dumb snarf
"I think he is talking to you," The Upset Warden says as an aside to the remaining broom. "And what is a 'snarf'?"
She casts shield again removes herself from the mob of Pathfinders.
PUTTING THE "WAR" IN "WARDEN'S OFFICE" - Round Three Cont'd/Round Four Begins!
Areeza -1 HP
Zdenek
Ironwolf
Artemios
Savan
Broom (yellow)
Grannik
Upset Warden -19 HP
|
She's talking to brooms. Artemios softens a little. This woman has clearly suffered as much as the rest of the poppets.
Although it is an animate broom, so maybe it's more intelligent then the average broom. It would be pretty foolish for a talking dog with magical powers to overlook that possibility... but it doesn't answer.
He fixes it with his gaze and circles around, looking for the weakest point in its handle before he cuts it down.
The combined might of the Pathfinders is more than enough to bring the poppet down. The Upset Warden is down.
With the Warden defeated in combat, the invisible wall around the dollhouse briefly becomes a visible, translucent barrier before shattering and vanishing completely. It woudld seem that the Warden’s willpower was the only thing holding the remaining wards together.
The lizardfolk turns towards the others poppets: Well it seems you can move out from here now. We can bring the Warden with us.
"Are you sure you want to do that? She did seem to be pretty set on remaining her." Sweeper asks.
Want to see outside? Grannik asks the various poppets before heading out
As soon as Grannik steps out, the curse is broken and he is returned to his normal size.
Although somewhat unsure at first, Tartan, Chef Basil, and Full-Plate all follow. Being their first time out of the dollhouse, the trio finds it all a bit unsettling, but manage to collect themselves after a few minutes.
Seemless looks at Sweeper. The pair then reluctantly picks up the body of the Warden and flings her over Sweeper's shoulder.
As the three poppets next emerge from the dollhouse, the two conscious ones, at least, look hopeful.
Savan nods. "Come with us, we'll introduce you to others in the Society."
"I think we'd all like that." Sweeper concedes.
Following the party, the poppets catch the eye of Eando, who is incredibly surprised to see the party accompanied by their new allies.
"Just what have we here?" he asks. "I thought the dollhouse dollhouse’s magic has gone completely dormant? I had warned you all that any good Pathfinder should be prepared for trouble, but I, for one, wasn't prepared to see this!"
In the days that follow their exit from the dollhouse, Eando Kline makes it a point to speak with each of the poppets. Now free and truly awake, the poppets eventually seek new purpose.
Perhaps, with a little prompting.
Ironwolf tells the poppets about the Pathfinder Society.
Most don't appear convinced... though they thought the slides were pretty...
Or, perhaps, not.
Yet, the poppets do remember the conversations of places to go and jobs to be had in the wide world of Golarion. One by one, they leave to find their way.
The last one to leave is Sweeper. She doesn’t wish to continue being a janitor. What’s more, she’s found that, between her strange awakening within the vaults and her presence at the shattering of the old wards, she has an understanding of how to spread this to other dollhouse prisons. She wants to help in a more meaningful manner after Eando Kline informs her of the other dollhouses that Queen Anastasia has in her possession. However, the poppet is at a loss as to how to go about doing it. Sweeper wonders how she could ever get north to Irrisen, let alone gain an audience with the queen.
Slipping into old habits, she notices a smudge left on the board where Ironwolf had given his presentation before all the other poppets had left. Then, inspiration hit her.
Sweeper perked up. She marched into Eando's office and offered to serve as the Pathfinders' liaison to Irrisen. [b]"That way, I could go help free any other poppets who are still imprisoned or otherwise help to take care of the dollhouses. If nothing else, I do how to keep them clean and dust free.
Impressed, Eando offers Sweeper a field commission, which she quickly accepts.
As she departs, Eando believes there are sure to be more poppets joining the Society’s ranks if Sweeper has anything to say on the matter.